SUMMARY South African Opposition Picks New Voice - Essay Example

South African Opposition Picks New Voice” Summary In South African Opposition Picks New Voice, Patrick McGroarty goes into the reasons why the Democratic Alliance picked Lindiwe Mazibuko to lead the party. This was done so that the party could challenge the African National Congress, which holds a large majority in parliament. In every general election since 1994, the Democratic Alliance has made significant gains each election, but to enough to take power away from the African National Congress.

In choosing a young black woman as party leader, the Democratic Alliance has tried to appeal to a new generation of voters. To entice black voters, the party will have to strive for new policies that address the needs of low income young blacks. Because the next national vote is not until 2014, Ms. Mazibuko must try to place pressure on the government through parliamentary sessions. The previous leader of the party, Athol Trollip, did not appeal to the wider voting public because he is a 47 year old white farmer.

In choosing a new type of leader, the Democratic Alliance is attempting to turn over a new page in politics and offer themselves as a viable alternative to the ruling African National Congress. Although the party will focus specifically on blacks’ issues, it is a party that will stand for South Africans are all races. Historically, the Democratic Alliance has been thought of as a white-dominated party. This decision to appoint a black leader is a step into the future and will hopefully result in the Democratic Alliance making more of a difference on the South African political scene.